Oklahoma's Bob Stoops on Trevor Knight: 'I like what we’re doing'

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Brett Deering/Getty Images

NORMAN, OK - AUGUST 31: Running back Damien Williams #26 of the Oklahoma Sooners scrambles against the Louisiana-Monroe Warhawks during the first half August 31, 2013 at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in Norman, Oklahoma. (Photo by Brett Deering/Getty Images)

NORMAN, Okla. — It wasn’t the stat line freshman Trevor
Knight expected in his debut as Oklahoma’s starting quarterback: 103 yards
rushing but only 86 passing, albeit with three touchdown throws.

True, the Sooners did cruise to a 34-0 win over Louisiana-Monroe
on Saturday. But there’s little debate Knight will need to improve in the
passing department this Saturday, when No. 16 Oklahoma (1-0) will host West
Virginia (1-0) in the Big 12 Conference opener for both teams.

After the game, Knight said he felt “like I did enough to get us
the win” but added that “I know I can improve on a lot of stuff - decision
making, just running the ball, anything. I know we can go up from here, which is
exciting for our team.”

“I thought Trevor, being in his first start and his reads and
handling the offense and communicating and running the football, was really good
and strong,” Stoops said Monday. “There were a lot of passes I know he can make
that we didn’t complete that we’ve got to work on.”

Knight struggled in the first half against Louisiana-Monroe,
particularly on short swing passes, which he often threw too high, too low or
too far from the reach of an intended receiver. Three of his throws were batted
down at the line and another was nearly intercepted in the end zone. He went
7-of-21 passing in the first half for 42 yards.

He settled down after halftime and finished the game 11-for-28
passing, although his yardage total was more like what Oklahoma quarterbacks
produced in the program’s wishbone era in the 1970s and 1980s than in recent
years with Jason White, Sam Bradford and Landry Jones rolling up gaudy numbers.

Same goes for Knight’s rushing total, as he became the first
Oklahoma quarterback to rush for 100 yards in a game since White had 117 yards
rushing against Kansas on Oct. 13, 2001.

Such is life running the read option, Stoops said.

“At the end of the day, it just a little bit different style,”
Stoops said. “I like what we’re doing and the direction we’re going. We’ve just
got to keep building on it. That’s where we’re at.”

Knight said he didn’t want to get too worked up about his passing
stats.

“You take what they can give you,” he said. “We didn’t light it
up like we have here in the past, but we did what we needed to do to win.
Anytime you win, that’s all that matters.”

Against Louisiana-Monroe, Stoops said Knight did a good job of
making reads and deciding when to pull the ball down and run. Stoops also cited
Knight’s improved passing in the second half, although he said the low yardage
total wasn’t entirely Knight’s fault.

“Later in the game he threw some good balls, the touchdowns to
Trey (Metoyer) and Jalen (Saunders),” Stoops said. “He threw a couple other deep
balls that I feel we’ve got to be able to come up with. One, we come down with
it, and the defender rolls and takes it away from us. That’s a play that the
ball’s where it needs to be. We’ve got to make a competitive catch. Those throws
were good.”

Knight did struggle some on “some of the screens and some of the
intermediate throws,” Stoops said, but “he’ll improve on that, I believe. I’m
sure there’s a good bit of jitters, going out there the first time, and I
believe he’ll calm down and throw the ball like he’s capable.”

Tailback Brennan Clay noticed Knight became more settled in as
the game progressed.

“Trevor, of course being his first game, played exceptionally
well,” Clay said. “Especially the second half. He came out on fire and started
hitting some shots, finally.”

Knight said this week would be spent watching film and working on
timing with his receivers so the Sooners can “connect on those deep balls,
because we’ve got to hit our shots.”

He said he’s excited to be playing again after redshirting during
the 2012 season.

“The last game I played in when I got hit was in high school,”
Knight said. “It’s been a long time. To get out there and finally get hit around
a little bit felt good.”

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